A roleplay transcript by Lyrena Auberan, Malekith Helerodis, Caldiin Daetris and Skolvor Vikaris
TL;DR - Not everyone can win!
:: The Caravan had travelled some distance out of the city, it was quiet for the most part but as they entered into a clearing.
:: Skolvor Vikaris slithers out of the bushes and summons all of his power to him. He stands burning in iridescent eldritch flames ahead of the caravan. "You have something that belongs to me," he hisses as he sees Lyrena at the head of the party. "Hand it over and you may yet walk away from this."
:: The two guardians who were with the Dame Commander jumped up and readied themselves to fight, drawing their spears and weapons and awaited for the Commanders orders…
:: Lyrena Auberan had been keeping an eye out to the best of her ability. However, it was the assigned scout that noticed something was amiss first. "Dame Commander…", the man called out towards the caravan after he stopped in his tracks. After that, the Blood elf herself leaned forward, squinting her eyes as she focused on the road ahead. Something was moving. But what? Her heart skipped a beat as that unmistakable silhouette revealed itself - engulfed in a coat of powerful magic. "Stop!", she yelled at the rider of the caravan. "Turn it around!", she yelled even louder while frantically climbing down the carriage, and landing with a thud. By now, the pair of horses at the front were thoroughly spooked, and the rider was failing miserably at subduing them. The delegated scout, and the other armed Guardian drew their weapons. They looked as tensed and shook as their Commander, who had hurried to draw her storm axe. Its flickering lightning illuminated the area nearby, while Lyrena focused directly on Skolvor. "I suggest you walk away. Now.", Lyrena yelled at the naga sorcerer, gripping her weapon harder. He could tell her chest was already heaving from quickening breaths.
:: Skolvor Vikaris made a complex gesture in the air and the narrow path that the party had come through closed itself off in a tumble of rocks and boulders. "Stay were you are!" he commanded the members of the party who had been following Lyrena's orders to turn the carriage around. "Lyrena," he said with a satisfied hiss. "I am so pleased we get to test one another in battle after all. I am disappointed, though, that you believed you could bring the Sword of Askamran out of the city without my knowing. You would have done better to leave this to Silmariel and me." He moved his staff across his body into a defensive posture, ready to cast. "Shall we begin?" he said in a voice hissing with malice. "I'll even let you take the first shot if you like."
:: The Scout that had warned Lyrena of Skolvor had appeared then to the side of her and removed the cloak and mask that was used to disguise him, tossing it to the ground. The air around him begins to drop in temperature, the ground freezing around him as he reached back and drew out his sword, holding it to his side. "I had a feeling it would not go so smoothly…" he glanced to Lyrena and nodded. "Guardians, ready for battle. We take this snake in today…." he smirked, confident that the four of them would easily dispatch Skolvor…"
:: Caldiin Daetris crept through the shadows and moved between the tree's to find himself on the opposite side of the Ansa`felians. He moved swiftly and brought his hands out from under the cloak, a green flame enveloped his hands and he thrust them both forward, connecting with the backs of two other guards who accompanied the King and Dame Commander, his hands tearing through their armor like paper. The guards began to cry out in pain as smoke began to rise from the wounds and their bodies reaved in pain, dropping their weapons to the ground as they cooked alive from the inside by the Demonic Flames. They both dropped to the ground dead and Caldiin smiled at the two who remained. "Malekith… I'm happy you decided to join us."
:: Lyrena Auberan peered past her shoulder as the pass between them was blocked with magically induced rubble. Lyrena grumbled in frustration behind her pursed lips, then peered back towards the naga responsible. She crudely tore off her cloak, knowing it could trip or slow her down. She practically froze as the scout turned out to be none other than her liege, King Malekith. The suddenness and the unexpectedness of it all distracted the Blood elf. She stared wide-eyed at Malekith for a few moments, before composing herself. Her glare towards Skolvor was frustrated. Hateful. "Stay behind me, my King.", she loudly counselled at the King, and the other Guardian. "Protect the package.", she added. By her tone, the pair could tell the Dame Commander would have wanted them to run and escape with it, if it came to that. A tonal subtlety that Skolvor was likely to pick up on too. Lyrena stepped forward, with caution. Skolvor could tell the Blood elf didn't exactly trust him to keep his word, on his invitation. She peered occasionally towards her Sentinel Shield. The sudden, pained cries of the two recently murdered Guardians summoned her attention. She looked past her shoulder at the hooded figure who had slain her soldiers in cold blood. It was on now. "Behind you, my King!", Lyrena shouted in a warning at Malekith behind her. Then, she looked back at Skolvor. Her rage had intensified. Immediately, Lyrena began to charge towards the naga in front of her - before ultimately leaping, and attempting to cleave him with her axe with an upward swing, letting out a roar that echoed in the valley.
:: Skolvor Vikaris watched the Blood elf sprint towards him with a sly smile on his face, ready to split her into atoms. His confidence, however, was misplaced, and the Blood elf's electrified axe struck true, rending a vicious gash in the meat of his snakelike body. The axe cut cleanly through the strong muscles and the mage screamed in rage. His magic forgotten for a moment in the pain and anger, he swung his staff directly at Lyrena's head, using it like a cudgel, hoping to crack her skull...
:: Caldiin Daetris held his hands out to either side of him as he moved towards Malekith in a menacing stance. As he moved the field would ignite from the heat of the green flames that whirled about him, thought it burned hot and bright, it did not seem to effect the hooded figure. "I been waiting for this day a long time, Malekith. I will enjoy ripping your head from your body and displaying it to your 'beloved' people of Ansa`fel. He extended his hand forward and a green flame shot forward aimed towards the King.
:: Malekith Helerodis turned in time to see the death of his two most loyal guards and he gritted his teeth and readied his blade. "You'll pay for that!" he waved his hand as the area around him began to grow even colder but the words from the hooded man took him off guard and he tilted his head, the voice was familiar to him, but he could not tell who it belonged. While he was distracted in the thought, the green flame was shot out and the black ice seemed to reflexively react to it and move to defend the King but it could not fully block the attack. The ball of green flame exploded and burned the side of Malekiths face, his skin blistering and wilting from the hell flame. "AH!" he cried out in pain and reared back before pulling his hand up and the ice sprouted from the ground around him, counting the attack as spears of ice shot out to impale the hooded man.
:: Lyrena Auberan roared loudly as her axe lodged into Skolvor's body, the electricity on the axe's runed blade intensifying. She immediately dislodged her weapon from Skolvor. The Dame Commander obviously wanted to have another swing. But Skolvor was quick with his large staff - taller than the blonde elf, for certain. Perhaps not quick enough, though. Skolvor could already see the Sentinel Shield on her left forearm assembling loudly - to completion, just as the massive staff struck its surface. Lyrena bashed away the staff - just as she heard the King letting out a pained cry behind her. It seemed the Mysterious Stranger had just struck and disoriented him. Relying on Skolvor himself being stunned enough, Lyrena began to sprint towards the hooded figure, her breaths already raspy and labored. She leaped again, and spun herself in the air, attempting to heavily crash the ridge of her shield against Caldiin's mask. She hoped the King would focus on Skolvor, who was likely about to recover himself just about now.
:: Caldiin Daetris grinned wide though it was hidden under the mask he wore to disguise him. The ball of demon flames doing their work but he did not expect the King to counter to soon, or be alive. The spears of ice erupting from the ground shot up and he bounced backward to avoid it but he was caught in the arm, tearing into his flesh and instantly freezing his hand. He quickly placed the green flame to it to stop the spread of the black ice and he sharply glanced to the king, readying another attack when he spotted Lyrena just in time moving to attack him. He rolled to the side just in time, the shield of the Dame Commander only passing through his cloak as he spun around, the green flame on his hand brightening and he made a fist and brought his hand up to strike the Blood Elf in the ribs.
:: Malekith Helerodis drew his hand back and the Ice that attacked Caldiin turned to dust and seemingly returned to Malekith. He watched his Dame Commander launch herself through the air in defense of her King, attacking Caldiin and he knew that would leave the mage alone to cast his spells from a distance, he would not allow that. "You take care of him, I'll take Skolvor!" he called to the Commander who probably needed not his word to know this. Malekith faced the snake and ran towards him, his blade pulled to the side and the ice coated the sword as he twisted nimbly and spun to slash at the snake.
:: Skolvor Vikaris watched the Blood elf sprint away from him towards her King. He allowed her to go, using his power to stitch together the rendered flesh on his stomach. Once he was whole again, he raised his staff up into a casting position, deciding that Malekith was the more dangerous foe in this fight, despite the Dame Commander's obviously lucky strike. "I thought never to face you, Malekith," he called as the King charged him. Once again, though, Skolvor's hubris was his undoing and the King's iced blade sunk easily into the snake's exposed torso, cutting him deeply. Skolvor howled in pain, but this time he kept his head and summoned a ball of eldritch fire, drawing it swiftly from the tip of his staff, twisting the energy in his hand and then launching it at Malekith.
:: Lyrena Auberan felt the temperature around her changing and fluctuating suddenly as she had charged for the Mysterious Stranger. The result of his, and King Malekith's magic-weaving. That, and other things, distracted the Blood elf warrior enough that she missed completely, and grunted as she crashed rather violently against the rocky ground behind Caldiin. Disoriented, Lyrena breathed heavily as she struggled to get back on her feet. Her eyes dilated as she saw that sickly green flame charging in the Stranger's hand. Quickly, she covered herself with her shield as well as she could, and absorbed most of the hellish fire, growling as the heat all around her intensified. The flame strike was so intense, that it knocked the kneeling Blood elf a few feet back as she blocked it. Though this would likely tip Caldiin from now on, that her enchanted shield was capable of stopping magical attacks. She hadn't the time to check on Malekith and Skolvor anymore. She hoped the King would prevail. For now, she needed to focus on the Stranger, whose magical prowess seemed more than threatening. After getting back on her feet, the Blood elf summoned her Sin'dorei rage again, and briefly deactivated her shield, so she could more properly swing her axe sideways towards Caldiin with both hands, hoping to strick one of his magic-weaving arms!
:: Caldiin Daetris felt his fist collide with the Dame Commanders sword, launching her backwards. He glared at her shield and immediately understood that it had some sort of effect to absorb magic. He began to prepare another fireball and aimed it to the back of Malekith when he spotted the Blood Elf launch another attack at him and he turned just in time to avoid it. her blade coming down and he narrowly moved his face out of the way, but the edge of her axe caught his mask, tearing it from his face. He spun around her to her backside as his hood had also dropped down revealing the Elf's identity before Lyrena. The man she fought looked 'exactly' like the King himself to every last detail besides some cosmetic differences. But their was no doubt in her mind, had Malekith not been standing behind her, that she was fighting the King himself. Caldiin prepared another Hell Flame and reached forward as a ball of the green flame erupted from his fist and launched itself at her!
:: Malekith Helerodis felt his blade sink into the mage and he was about to spin around to attack again when he was caught by the attack of the Snake at blank point. He went to raise his hand but the ice that surrounded him reacted even quicker, blocking most of the attack but like the fire before from Caldiin, it still reached him and once again burned the King who was sent flying back in a blaze across the field and rolling to a stop. His smouldering body lay still a moment but he knew he could not give up. He raised his head and aimed his hand to Skolvor, balling his hand into a fist and twisted. The black ice would begin to swirl around the Mage and attempt to enclose him into a tomb of pure ice!
:: Skolvor Vikaris watched his flames engulf Malekith and a roar of pleasure screamed from his throat as he intensified the attack, causing the King to fly backwards, despite his icy defense. Skolvor was ready for Malekith's magical riposte and he caught the King's forming ice attack easily with his staff, dispelling the ice in a flash of purple flame. "Now this is more like it!" he said, a wicked gleam in his eyes. He took advantage of the distance between them and summoned a writhing, snakelike magic into being in front of him. He whirled his great arms around and around, crafting the magic into a solid spear of sickening purple light. He gripped it in his large, clawed hand and hurled it at the king, his great muscles launching it at an unbelievable speed.
:: Lyrena Auberan stumbled forward as she landed from her jump, panting loudly and turning around to see the labor of her efforts. She had felt her axe hit something, to some extent, but she was not certain what. Her eyes widened - but also narrowed in shock and suspicion, her mouth agape. What? The King was now in front of her? Reflexively, she almost addressed 'Malekith', but her words stopped almost immediately as she saw the man instantly throw another ball of fire at her. It almost caught the Dame Commander off-guard, considering how in shock she initially looked to be. However, she managed to assembled her previously dismissed shield just in time. The ball of fire belly-flopped against its surface. A giant flash occurred in the valley as her Sentinel Shield successfully stopped the attack, but knocked Lyrena back again, nearly making her fall. She grunted, trying to stand up straight again. There was sweat on her face, ashes. She looked towards 'Malekith' again - then towards the real one, who had just encased himself with ice. "You will stop this farce.", she sternly barked at Caldiin. He had to been casting an illusion spell. How was this possible? Lyrena knew she needed to persist in her assaults, but even so, she hesitated, looking at that familiar, regal face that had just proposed to Queen Etain a few hours ago. A hesitation that she might just regret… The Blood elf disassembled her shield yet again, and charged forward - though this time, as she jumped, Lyrena threw her storm axe with all her strength, hoping the blade would strike true at Caldiin's chest.
:: Caldiin Daetris readied for Lyrena's attack, he braced himself to roll to either side when she would move in and plotted to engulf her in his flame when she had but he did not expect the warrior to THROW her weapon at him and his eyes widened as the axe spun towards him. He tried to roll to the side but it sunk into his left shoulder and the arm fell limp at his side, the flame dispelling. He roared in pain and narrowed his eyes at the Dame Commander and he pointed his finger at her then raised it upwards, pointing it to the sky. As he had a circle would form below Lyrena with a green sickly substance and then would immediately erupt the ground below her, sending hell fire from the ground below her upwards.
:: Malekith Helerodis had jumped up off the ground as the mage had began to form the spear of flame, when he launched it, Malekith raised his hand and a wall of thick black ice formed instantly in front of him and the spear ripped into it, piercing through the ice and stopped just before it reached the King, who seemed not worried at all as he made no attempt to move out of the way. The barrier then dropped and the spear fell to the ground. Malekith summoned all his strength and the area dropped to subzero temperatures, moisture began to be pulled from the surrounding environment and a swarm of icicles appeared all around him, all pointed at the snake. He pushed his hands forward and when he had all the icicles launched themselves at the snake at the same time, attempting to skewer the mage in an icey death barrage.
:: Skolvor Vikaris watched the king defend the Spear of Velrain with ease and snarled. A moment later, a hail of icicles sped towards him and he bent their flight paths harmlessly around him with a toothy grin on his face. "You will have to do better than these magical toys, Malekith," he hissed. "I confess I am a little disappointed in you, your Grace." He raised his staff high into the air, purple fire coruscating around it, and then slammed it down into the ground. As he did so, a shaft of horrid, eldritch light spewed forth from the orb at its top and lashed its way towards the King, spitting flame and smoke as it traveled between the two magic users.
:: Lyrena Auberan wiped the sweat and ash off her face with her forearm as her axe landed against Caldiin's shoulder. She hoped that would make the Malekith clone yield, but it did not. If anything, it seemed that the fire mage only became angrier. The Blood elf wanted to call out to the real King, to alert him of this individual she was fighting - of the face he wore. But she was concerned, fearing that distracting the King for even a second might allow the vile Skolvor to land a lethal blow on him. While looking at the King, Lyrena felt the ground under her start to get hot. She grunted in pain as the metal on her boots heated painfully, and jumped out of the way before the hellish flames managed to explode. Whether her axe was still lodged in Caldiin or it had fallen, the Dame Commander had no time to get it again. Instead, she ran towards the Malekith impostor, and attempted to tackle the larger man to the ground, hoping she still had enough energy left in her to do it. And if successful, Lyrena would try to strike the impostor in his handsome face a couple of times with her armored fist, her intention likely to knock him out.
:: Caldiin Daetris felt the pain in his shoulder course through him and he reached over to pull the weapon out of his armor and flesh, tossing it to the ground when he looked up he saw the blood elf charge him and he attempted to throw another ball of flames at her, but she tackled him to the ground and before he could attempt to toss her off his face was pummeled several times by her fist, each hit dazing the elf until he ceased to stop moving, laying unconscious on the ground beneath her. (KO)
:: Malekith Helerodis was defended effortlessly by the black ice as the fire spat towards him from the ball, making mist shoot up into the air as each one evaporated. Malekith rolled forward and gripped his sword with both hands and slashed it downward at the chest of the snake, hoping to finally put him down so he could assist Lyrena, unaware that his Dame Commander had already put down the hooded man.
:: Skolvor Vikaris watched Gevarisk's Lance bounce harmlessly off Malekith's ice shield and was then shocked to find the King running towards him, pressing the attack. Fortunately the distance allowed him time to defend the King's sword, catching it on his staff and turning it to the side. "Very well," he hissed. "Like animals, then." He swung his left hand at Malekith's throat, his sharp claws seeking the soft flesh at the side of the elf royal's neck.
:: Malekith Helerodis turned his head to try and move out of the way of the blow but the clawed hand connects, tearing into his flesh, cleaving away at his cheek and leaving three deep gashes in the side of his face. Malekiths body rag dolled to the ground after spinning around and the cold aura that normally surrounded him disappears.
:: Lyrena Auberan grabbed the now unconscious Caldiin by his throat and slammed him down to the ground, panting tiredly as she stumbled to the side and bent down to pick up her axe - which now felt so much heavier considering how tired the Blood elf was getting. She couldn't help but look down at the unconscious Caldiin. Getting knocked out certainly wasn't enough to dispel the illusion the Dame Commander believed her opponent had cast on himself… What was actually going on here? She saw as the real King defended himself masterfully against the naga mage's relentless spells. The Blood elf desperately needed a minute to catch her breath, but she knew no such luxury would be available. Seeing Skolvor and Malekith brawl up close and personal, Lyrena knew she needed to intervene. Her labored breathing would likely give away her charge long before she reached Skolvor, but she hoped she wouldn't. With her axe now in hand, Lyrena clenched her expression, grunting in effort and strain as she tried to cleave her axe against Skolvor's thick, coiling tail while Malekith was distracting the naga.
:: Skolvor Vikaris watches the King go down with a wicked snarl which turns quickly to a howl of pain as the Blood elf's axe connects with his vulnerable tail. He turns quickly, watching the blood spurt out of it. He looks from the Blood elf to the king and then to the box containing Ke'ntor and hisses. "Another day, Lyrena Auberan. I will take my vengeance." With that, he slams his staff into the ground and a blinding flash of purple light erupts from it. The light is harmless, but once the Blood elf's vision returns, the snake mage is gone. He has left Caldiin behind.
:: Lyrena Auberan growled through barred teeth as she dislodged the red blade of her axe from Skolvor's tail. The electricity had almost cooked the blood, making it goopy, giving it an even more foul smell. Lyrena tried to ignore Skolvor's taunts. She lifted her axe again, and swung it high. It was time to finish this. Skolvor would die today. Except, before her swing connected, Lyrena became suddenly disoriented. Her sight completely abandoned her as that loud flash blinded her. Even her other senses seemed dulled. For a moment, she had no idea where she was, or what was happening. By the time the Blood elf came to her senses, she was on the ground, conscious. But tired. So tired. She closed her eyes, grunting and coughing. Her muscles were so sore. She felt burned in places. Many bruises that were now bloody and constantly scraping against her armor. It took the Blood elf a solid minute to even get up on her knees. She hadn't had a tiring fight like this in a while. Still feeling a bit hazy, she looked around the dark battlefield. Skolvor was gone, at least. She noticed the King beside her, and tiredly waddled towards him. "King Malekith!", she called out in a raspy tone, as she planted a hand on his cheek. She tried to shake him for a bit, but the monarch was definitely unconscious. Lyrena sighed, and pushed herself up to stand with the help of her axe. The carriage was half-destroyed, and the horses had run away. They were alone here. Several feet away, she noticed the body of that imposter. The green fire mage. For a moment, Lyrena considered going there, and executing the man. But they were vulnerable, out here. She had no idea if Skolvor's escape might have been a ruse, and the naga could have still been nearby. She had to get the King out of there. After putting her axe on the hook on her back, Lyrena weakly tugged onto the King by his armpits, slowly standing him up. She was committed to dragging him back to the city, one way or another… And if the King wouldn't wake up soon, it was highly likely they wouldn't reach Ansa'fel until morning… Lyrena would need to take more than one break during their long, long journey. As they approached the carriage, Lyrena weakly pulled the box out of the half-wrecked carriage. For a time, she had to prop Malekith sitting against the carriage, as she found a rope to tie around the box. She would drag it, even though she heard whispers from inside the crate… Whispers that told her not to bother with any rope, but to take the relic out of its housing, and keep it safe on her hip as well… A temptation she would have to avoid it… With the rope hoisted on one shoulder, and the King propped up on her other, Lyrena exhaustedly began to drag them both towards the city…
